Rising Gas Prices - Driver's Seat

Well, here we are, past the last week of production for the October issue-and I've got nothing to say! Can you believe that? Me, Mister Opinion, with nary a word...no rants...no 20 questions! What has the world come to? To be honest, that's one question that has been on my mind quite a bit lately-just what has this world come to?

With gasoline now peaking five whole bucks a gallon (I can remember years ago when it was at least that much in Europe and Asia and thinking, "I'm glad the U.S. will never have to deal with that!") everybody's got their "green" hats on. Furthermore, you can barely turn on the news without hearing of some new natural disaster occurring, be it local or on the other side of the globe, so how could anyone possibly think about something as trivial as classic trucks? Well, while my heart does go out to all those affected by the floods in the Midwest, the tens of thousands who suffered the quake in China, and basically all who've fallen victim to any of the recent disastrous acts of nature, it seems that among other things, vintage automobilia is the only thing I have to take my mind off "reality!" OK, that and my son, who's thankfully too young to even grasp really anything other than Thomas the Tank Engine!

Does that make me a horrible person? Well, since classic trucks are pretty much what I do to make ends meet, I'd hope not. Then again, if I were, say, a gas station attendant, a computer repair technician (yeah, right!), or even a caddy at the local public golf course, since my passion is-and I assume will always be-vintage vehicles of the two- and four-wheeled persuasions, it's safe to say I'd feel the same way. Would I then be a terrible human being? I say no. To me, as horrific as this world can be, there has to be something to take you away from reality, even if for just a short while; something to put a smile on your face while you cope with whatever bad things may be going on in the real world.

And despite what a pessimist I am, I don't think it's such a bad thing to have something pleasant to turn to in times of despair-even if the state of affairs we're living in isn't really that bad after all (OK, save for the random disasters). For instance, this huge spike in gasoline prices. When you really think about it, you're maybe spending what, $20-40 more a month to fill up your tank(s)? If that's the case, offset it by not Macho Sizing your combination lunch a few times a week! You don't need that much caffeine and sugar anyway. For me, I stopped going to the java joint and dropping $5 a shot for a fancy coffee; instead, I got me one of those 50-gallon drums of Maxwell House! Still getting used to the taste, but suffice it to say, it doesn't hurt as much to fill up at the pump anymore.

Gas prices aside, it is getting harder and harder to enjoy what many perceive as such a petty pastime when the times we live in make it so difficult to justify. But you know what, we manage to pull it off, don't we?! Otherwise, this would just be a passing fad of sorts; an expensive one at that. I don't know about you, but it would be hard for me to rationalize spending the kind of money I do on old trucks with the economy the way it is today. But I do, and will continue to do so. Hope you all can manage to do the same.